Hannibal Confirmed To Return For Season 2

Bryan Fuller made two attempts to entertain us at NBC this season. Things didn't work out so well for Mockingbird Lane, but Hannibal turned out to be a keeper. NBC showed faith in the project early on, ordering it to series over a year ago, though the show didn't make its grand debut until April of this year. Given its late premiere, NBC wasn't quite ready to announce the fate of the drama at the up fronts this month, but the news is finally in, and it's good.

TVLine reported the news today, stating that NBC has opted to renew the show for Season 2. And it sounds like fans will have to wait all over again, as NBC doesn't anticipate getting the new season on the air before midseason of next year. Like the first season, Season 2 will consist of 13 episodes.

Hannibal is currently amidst its first 13-episode run, with three episodes remaining, not counting the one that's set to air tonight. The thriller is based on the characters from Thomas Harris' novel Red Dragon and tells the story of the working relationship between FBI special investigator Will Graham (Hugh Dancy) and Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Mads Mikkelsen). It's set in the modern day but takes place in the timeframe before Lecter was an outed killer. The knowledge that he has a taste for violence (and human flesh) does add an interesting layer to the drama, as we watch Lecter and Graham work together to solve gruesome murders. The series, which airs Thursday nights at 10:00 p.m., debuted to an audience of over four million. While its viewership has diminished a bit since then, it looks like NBC's happy enough with its performance to move forward with the show.

Fans of Harris' stories might consider celebrating this news with a glass of nice chianti. Maybe some liver and fava beans? Check out the limited edition Silence of the Lambs wine that Alamo Drafthouse is selling here.